Cops: DWI Driver Kills College Student in Crash

According to Newsday, a 21-year-old college student "was killed when a drunken driver's SUV slammed head-on into his car, Nassau police said." Jason Shein, on Thanksgiving break from the University of Miami and a volunteer EMT, had been driving home in Farmingdale with three friends when the crash occurred shortly after midnight on Sunday. Of Shein's passengers, one was seriously injured and two others were treated and released from the hospital. The SUV's driver, Persi Esquivel, who was also treated for injuries, had apparently "crossed the double yellow line to pass another vehicle" and ending up hitting Shein's car. Esquivel was charged with manslaughter and 11 other charges; plus he had been "on probation from a previous drunken driving conviction."

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By Jen Chung on December 1, 2008 12:23 PM

Comments [rss]

The Edge

#13- In a sense, it is.

Just like how some folks go out and only buy hybrids now.

Or ride bicycles.

Not exactly rocket science, here.

angry_pickle

I don't understand why people charged with DWI don't have their ass whacked until they become sober or fall unconscious from the pain.

Billiamsburg

Oh an SUV is a 'lifestyle choice' now? Is it going to be recognized as genetic in 2012 you think?

The Edge

#10- Just because you don't agree with their lifestyle?

That makes sense.

hungryghoast

on probation for a previous drunk driving conviction and now he kills one and injures others... this fucker needs to be fast tracked to prison.

Reflect

I say egg and key every SUV and hummer you see.

The Edge

And not all SUVs are gigantic.

Toyota RAV4? Honda CRV? Acura RDX? Jeep Wrangler? Ford Escape?

Would you guys be calling for a ban on minivans if the douche was driving a Sienna? Or how about pickup trucks--which is what the Explorer (and most large bodied SUVs) is based on?

S.D.

My condolences to the family of the victem.

Instead of blaming the SUV how about you blame the drunk driver?

Do you guys really think drunk driving is just restricted to SUV owners? Sadly, I can assure you that it isn't. The real problem here is that someone with a history of DWI was allowed to be on the road.

Billiamsburg

Yes all the more reason to require a special license class for SUVs and to charge them monthly rates for owning and operating something so large on our streets. That will cut down on the douchebags who buy it because they like having 'the biggest shit possible by law'

The Edge

#4- Because they're relaxed (i.e. DRUNK) when it happens. A relaxed body absorbs damage better than when tensed.

Clarice City

Always, always, always a drunk in an SUV!

Driving an SUV should require special licensing requirements -like a proven safe driving record. Or how about double the penalties for accidents involving an SUV?

Wza

Why is it that the drunk driver almost always seems to live in a DWI accident?

Sad story.

Mr Mel

When will the courts order jail time for multiple DWI arrests. Did Perci have his license suspended? If he was given a couple of months for the previous offenses he could have thought things over and a valuable citizen would still be alive.

r1b2

Of course, it's an SUV in the hands of a drinken killer. Terrific.

By the way, this is another tale of shame for Long Island. If this were Brooklyn, chances are Jason and his friends would have been able to take mass transit. Suburbs are awful.

west side Michael

Very sad amongst sad events this week.

A photo ran of this victim touching the

Babe Ruth memorial at the old Yankee stadium

just a short time ago.

Drunk driving is still not really

punished much in this country.